CRIME DOES PAY FOR TEEN ACTORS

JOANN W. GODDARD; Courant CorrespondentTHE HARTFORD COURANT

A local group of teenagers has been rewarded for robbing a video store. Well, pretending to rob a video store.

The group, members of the Clinton-Madison Improv Theatre Troupe, recently won first place in a regional talent competition with an improvisational skit about a group of bored teenagers who rob a video store.

It was the first time the newly formed group competed against other teenage performers.

The competition, the "Connecticut Young People's Healthy Living" competition, was sponsored by Healthright and Fox 61 WTIC-TV. The competition was open to individuals/groups, school programs or public housing authority groups.

As winners of the regional competition, the local troupe received $1,000 in cash plus $1,000 in college scholarship funds to be split between the five performers. They will compete against other regional winners in a statewide competition in Hartford this week.

"Everyone was really nervous when we first got there," troupe member Amanda Funk said of the regional event. "But then we just focused on what we were doing, and it worked."

"They are a really talented group. I knew they were up to the challenge and would be able to handle it," said Mary Peach-Keyes of Clinton Youth Services.

The other members of the troupe who participated in the competition are Kristen McKnight from Clinton and Joel Price, Ashley Fetterman and Lisa DiBuono of Madison.

At the state competition, the group will probably try to re-create its winning performance of the vidoe store holdup, said Funk. The skit addressed issues such as friendship, boredom and crime.

"Obviously, it was enough to win there and maybe it will win again," Funk said.

"Believe me, it worked. It sounds tragic but it just worked," said Judith Sprague of Madison Youth Services.

The improv troupe was made possible through a $30,000 federal grant for substance abuse education. The towns received the grant through the 1996-97 school year. With about 20 members, the troupe helps teenagers learn how to cope with difficult situations by allowing youths to act them out.

As part of their training, troupe members received education about drug and alcohol issues, as well as violence and other concerns. Troupe members practice regularly during the week and have performed for many school groups, senior citizens and other audiences, said Peach-Keyes.